Weaning is a big change for the calf. It wouldn’t be surprising if they are thinking their whole world is falling apart.

It’s the time when the calf losses its mother and the protection and comfort she provides.

It is a huge social change as calves which may not even like each other, are dumped together usually with no adult cattle to supervise.

It is an environmental change as they are often locked up in yards or perhaps moved to a new paddock they know nothing about.

It is also a big change in diet. Milk, which can still make up to a third of the calves’ energy at the point of weaning, is no longer available. Yard weaning probably means no fresh pasture either.

It’s no wonder weaners can break down with respiratory and other problems.

Work by NSW DPI many years ago discussed the benefits of yard weaning.

There are many, and the opportunity to train the weaners to you and the cattle yards is one of the best.

But is an abrupt separation of mother and calf in yard weaning the best for the calf?

Reducing stress on weaners should keep them healthier, as well as have less effect on their growth.

Natural weaning in cattle which has been observed in Bos indicus cattle is a gradual process. Over time the cow will initiate weaning until it will no longer tolerate suckling. Eventually the strong maternal bond established at birth is broken and the animals separate.

This usually is not how weaning happens in southern Australia.

There are studies that have looked at weaning over a period of time compared to abrupt separation.

Weaning by separating cows and calves with a fence line is common and generally the process occurs over a week or so.

Separation by fence line for a short period, followed by total separation a few days later has also been trialled.

Using anti-suckling devices attached to the calves’ noses also mimics a gradual separation.

Gradual separation strategies try to help the calf cope with the change.

In several studies weight gain and stress (as measured by calf behaviour) were compared for gradual as against abrupt weaning.

Different studies showed different effects on weight gain, but only in the initial few months. There was variation amongst studies as to what was the most stressful method. 

Exposing calves to things they will experience during weaning such as different feed, different paddocks, cattle yards or different watering points, while they are still with their mothers will reduce the stress of weaning.

However, no matter how the weaning is done, spending time feeding and training them through the yards will make handling easier later on.

Brian Cumming, bcagriculture.com.au